Rogue wave destroys ground floor of waterfront restaurant

Staff at a restaurant in northern California were shocked to learn the cause of tens-of-thousands of dollars in damage when they reviewed overnight security footage on Saturday.

Initially, staff thought winds were responsible for smashing a window and allowing strong rains to flood the ground floor of Moonraker Restaurant in Rockaway Beach, approximately 11km south of San Francisco.

But upon reviewing CCTV footage, staff realised a rogue wave had crashed through a window at the waterfront restaurant and caused the damage.

"Rolling back our security camera footage and seeing it for the first time, I literally screamed out, 'Holy s---'" Moonraker sales and catering manager, Emily Yeafoli, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Ms Yeafoli said it was far worse than any damage the restaurant has suffered during previous storms.

The carpet was flooded and wooden furniture damaged on the first floor of their restaurant - which is used mostly to host banquets, events and weddings.